“Come Home” to the 2018 Missouri State Fair

The 116th Missouri State Fair, themed “Come Home,” kicks off this Thursday in Sedalia. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected through the gates Aug. 9, and many are looking forward to the deals being offered on gate admission and at participating concessions and vendors. Fairgoers in attendance on Thursday will also enjoy livestock shows, Fair food, entertainment, and many other State Fair traditions including the Opening Day Ceremony, Parade, and Queen Pageant.

The Fair’s opening day, sponsored by MFA Incorporated, will offer $4 gate admission for visitors 13 years old and older, $2 admission for age 6-12, and free admission for kids 5 and under every day. Many concessionaires and vendors will offer “2 for $4” discounts on this day. A complete list of specials offered exclusively on Thursday, Aug. 9 will be available at the Fair’s information booths.

The Opening Day Ceremony will be the first official State Fair event beginning at 12 p.m. on the south side of the Agriculture Building. Special guests will include 100 youth representing the Boys and Girls Club of West Central Missouri. The youth are being brought to the Fair with support from KCP&L, Wade Shows, he Missouri State Fair, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, AgriMissouri/Missouri Grown and Kansas City Area Toyota Dealers. Toyota is the official vehicle of the 2018 Missouri State Fair.

The Opening Day Parade will begin at 6 pm and will include more than 100 units. MFA Incorporated, sponsor of Opening Day, will lead the parade down State Fair Boulevard. Other parade entries will include antique and classic cars, farm vehicles, the Smith-Cotton Marching Band, and various Fair-themed entries.

Great entertainment for all ages will be offered at no charge on Opening Day, including the MRCA Exceptional Rodeo at 10 am and the 2018 Missouri State Fair Queen Pageant and Coronation at 6 pm in the Mathewson Exhibition Center. The Budweiser Stage will feature the Nace Brothers at 2 pm and 6 pm and Madd Hoss Jackson at 9 pm. The MRCA Show-Me State Stampede and Rodeo will take place in the State Fair Arena, sponsored by Husqvarna, starting at 7 pm. Montgomery Gentry and Whiskey Myers will kick off the Pepsi Grandstand concert series at 7:30 pm. with fireworks to follow, sponsored by Bryant Motors. Tickets for the Pepsi Grandstand and State Fair Arena can be purchased at the State Fair Box Office, open from 9 am to 6 pm, Aug. 7-8 and 9 am to 9 pm, Aug. 9-19.

The 116th Missouri State Fair, themed “Come Home” will be held Aug. 9-19 in Sedalia. For more information about concerts, events, and other Fair activities, visit mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-FAIR (3247).

Check Out the Bud Stage Act!

Check out the awesome variety of live music every day at the Budweiser Stage during the Missouri State Fair!

This year’s line-up includes:

Aug 9

The Nace Brothers: 2 pm & 6 pm

Mad Hoss Jackson: 9 pm

Aug 10

The Nace Brothers: 2 pm & 6 pm

Queens Blvd: 9 pm

Aug 11

Jeremiah Johnson Band: 2 pm & 6 pm

Members Only: 9 pm

Aug 12

The Supermatics Band: 2 pm, 6 pm, & 9 pm

Aug 13

Full Moon Band: 2 pm, 6pm, & 9 pm

Aug 14

Presley & Taylor: 2 pm & 6 pm

Trixie Delight: 9 pm

Aug 15

The Nace Brothers: 2 pm, 5 pm, & 9 pm

Aug 16

Wildfire: 2 pm & 6 pm

Platinum Rock Legends: 9 pm

Aug 17

Chris Bandi: 2 pm & 6 pm

Dirt Road Addiction: 9 pm

Aug 18

Hillbilly Rockstarz: 2 pm & 6 pm

Dirt Road Addiction: 9 pm

Aug 19

Full Moon Band: 4 pm

Visit the Budweiser Stage page for more information on these talented artists including bios and links to their websites! Learn more >>>

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Poultry Announced

Myles Massey, son of Brian and Kate Massey, is the exhibitor of the 2018 Grand Champion Market Pen of Chickens at the Missouri State Fair. Myles is from Oronogo, and is a member of the Spring River 4-H Club. Myles’s prize-winning Pen of Chickens weighed an average of 7.20 lbs.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Pen of Chickens honor went to Alexandra Gast of Nevada. She is the daughter of Bryan Gast and Michelle Branham, and is amember of the Nevada FFA Chapter. Alexandra’s Pen of Chickens weighed an average of 6.40 lbs.

On Aug. 18, both Myles and Alexandra will sell their Pens of Chickens in two of 12 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions. Proceeds from the annual sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program.

Many livestock exhibitors will work toward earning a place in the ring at the time-honored Sale of Champions Auction. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Steers, Barrows, Lambs, Meat Goats, Pens of Chickens and Pens of Rabbits will be featured in the auction, which will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The entire auction will be broadcast live by KMMO radio online; and by KRLI radio online and on their FM station 103.9FM; on KMZU radio online and live updates on their FM station 100.7FM.

Through the generous support of YIA sponsors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth. Last year, thirty-four $1,500 scholarships, one supreme $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker John Deere of Missouri/Sydenstricker Angus Genetics, and one $5,000 platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 606 scholarships totaling $616,500.

A complete listing of the 2017 YIA sponsors is available on the Fair’s website. A listing of the 2018 sponsors will be posted soon. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor this year, or receiving more information about sponsorship, can visit www.mostatefair.com/competitions/youth-in-agriculture, or contact Wayne Yokley at 573-690-8987, Rodney Heimer at 217-257-6182, Sharon Topliff at 573-353-0543 or Mike Williams at 816-797-5450.

The 2018 Missouri State Fair, themed “Come Home,” begins this Thursday and runs through Aug. 19 in Sedalia. For more information about competitions and other events, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).